Assuming that I will take care of them and maintain them regularly, what real difference would I notice between the Aftco HD Big Foot regular and Aftco HD Big Foot Ball Bearing rollers? Has anyone lost a trophy fish because they didn't have BB rollers? I'm just wondering if the extra money is really buying me anything that I really need. Does the BB rollers really turn that much smoother than a well maintained set of regular rollers? How much better could they turn? In what instance would the BB rollers become a necessity?

Rob

In Over 25 years of long range fishing for the giant yellowfin tuna I never lost a fish because I didnt have ball bearings. If your guides are maintained well they is no reason to worry. At the Fred Hall Show for as long as I can remember they have had a display with rods going up and down 24/7 and none of those have has ball bearings. Just make sure you or your customers check there rollers before each trip. IMHO.

I messed up and hit the post button twice. If anyone knows how to scratch the other entry please do so.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/27/2005 10:28PM by James(Doc) Labanowski.

The Ball Bearing Rollers will still require maintainence. Just not quite as often. But when both types are working as they're supposed to, it's a wash - they're both fine and neither is going to harm your line.

If you're making this rod for a customer and who fishes hard and fishes often, and can't be sure he'll clean his guides more than about once per year, I'd go with the ball bearings. Otherwise, the standard bushing models, cleaned and lubed as needed, will do just as good of a job.

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